People usually notice the symptoms of a pulled, or strained, muscle in the back soon after an accident or injury. Back pain symptoms will follow an unusually stressful movement within a few hours or the next day.
Muscle strains occur when excessive force stretches the muscle tissue fibers beyond their normal capacity. Sometimes the fibers give way and tear. Even a partial separation of this tissue, as in a pull, weakens the large muscles in the back, making movement difficult and painful.
Types
One of several muscles that serve the spinal area may twist, push or pull too hard or too far, causing the muscle strain. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons notes that sports play, such as basketball or tennis, may overuse these muscles. Household chores that involve heavy lifting---especially awkward movements with bulky objects---may also contribute to a pulled muscle.
Features
Muscle strains usually produce localized back pain that restricts movement. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) report that some pulled muscles will spasm, swell and feel warm. The muscle area will feel weak, especially when in motion or under force, as when picking up or carrying objects. Injuries to the back that occur during sports play may disable the athlete.
Time Frame
According to the NIH, the first 48 hours of trauma represent the acute stage of a muscle injury. During this time, inflammation and back pain will be at their greatest, requiring rest and pain relief to move on to the recovery stage
Rehabilitation time depends on the extent of damage to the muscle. Mild injuries may resolve within three to six weeks, while it may take months to fully recover from a pulled muscle that has torn.
Solution
During the acute stage of treatment, rest serves to promote healing as well as to relieve back pain immediately. A day of bed rest may be followed by gradual resumption of activities within pain limits, advises the NYU Langone Medical Center. Patients can also take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen and apply ice packs periodically to ease muscle inflammation and pain.
After the acute stage passes, patients may still feel sore and weak. Heat packs can then be alternated with cold pack applications, or used prior to rehabilitative stretching.
Prevention
To avoid re-injury, patients should not resume sports until pain symptoms disappear and strengthening exercises have begun. The NYU Langone Medical Center reports that stretching for flexibility and exercising for strength both heal injuries and prevent future muscle strains.
When patients begin athletic play or exercise, they should exert themselves within limits. The likelihood of pulled muscles grows when the muscles are tired.
